life experiences & findings

My journey as a "student of life" and an artist, with room for the
playful or downright silly, in my world, locally or globally.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

The Carver

I have had for a long time...and I'm sure others have had too...the notionthat in each human being...there is a beautiful being...waiting to be liberated...from blindness or backwardness...or from us human beings...sometimes...simply having no wish...to consciously work on our personal growth. This idea...some years ago...found expression in the metaphor of the carver...chipping away at the log before him or her...to liberate the beautiful sculpture...hidden away in the log. Ihis metaphor...resulted in the writing of this song..."The Carver". This morning...I'm also reminded...that under the tinsel...and "shopping to show that you care"...that seems to be abroad in the land at this time...there is a beautiful "spirit of the season"...that my wish is...emerges morepowerfully than ever...this time round...................Quester.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Video Making...A Good Habit

This last while has been very productive...with the videos flowing from me...oneafter the other. I suppose that making videos has become a good habit. Most days...on returning from lunch out in the world...I bite the bullet...consciously notletting too much more time go by...before I start in. A delay in starting in couldtranslate into no video that day. Sometimes...I find something as simple as shaving...is my actual starting point...as I get myself ready to face the camera. Every time...it's getting all the bits and pieces in place...to make a video. SometimesI get impatient with this process of getting ready...but there is no help for it...it's a necessary part of the whole process. I've found...for me anyway...I can't just return home from my trip out into the world...and start the recording of a video.Some of the preparation steps I have to do: Get a copy of the words of the song for the day ready...and place it on a stand...I can look at if i need to. Put a cup ofwater out...within reach of my singing spot. Get handy one of my big black hats...after I change into my shirt...vest...or jacket for the day. Turn on the lights forvideo making...lighting for me having turned out to be one of the tricky parts of video making. Bring to hand the instrument i'm going to play that day...which onedepends on the song I'm going to sing. Somewhere along the way I startsending out strange sounds...which is my version of warming up my voice. I preparea file in my computer to receive the recording I'm about to make. I go over the songwords a few times...hoping I finally have them memorized. The moment for clickingthe mouse and starting playing...is one I have to specially get myself up for...because being of fuzzy mind as I start...is a recipe for doing take one...take two...etc. As it is...I confess to making many false starts...before I find myself wellinto the song...and with a good chance of sustaining my singing and playing...to thelast note. Sometimes towards the end of the song...my mind begins to roam...and Ihave to pull it back firmly...but smoothly...to the task at hand. When I feel I'vesucceeded in recording a "keeper"...I can feel a weight falling off my shoulders...and I give thanks!. One more video of the work I've created...is "in the can"...andI've completed my central artist's mission for the day. Hallelujah!.....Quester.

Friday, December 04, 2009

My New Box Of Wonders

A few days ago...I bought a keyboard...a musical one you plug into the wall. Sincethen...I've been probing what it has to offer...which is more than plenty. For me...it's a "box of wonders". I remember some years ago,,,how in some circles...it wasfashionable to "knock technology". Even back then...I knew it was a matter of howit is used. For instance...my videos on YouTube...come out of my embracing...someof the brilliant technology...that is now available to our world. It was my firstdigital camera...with video option...that started me into making videos...and sincethen...the videos keep flowing. To me...because of the terchnologies most of us inthe First World have access to...there is a grand unleashing of our human creativepotential...that everyone of us can help to make happen...if we wish to do so...andmake some slow time in our lives for it. The last few days I've been checking outthe myriad tones and options available from my new keyboard. This is already goosingmy creativity in an additional direction. Yesterday...I recorded my first keyboardimprovisation...and it is now on my main YouTube channel...which among other things...is there to celebrate creativity. I am no keyboard player...at this point...butI was able to "utilise creatively"...my keyboard. This way of thinking...is fromthe territory of the self taught artist...not ready to surrender years to practisingscales and techniques on an instrument...but instead...going with the "creative force"...and finding ways of making music...with what he or she...is working with. I couldgo on and on about this...but I have to return shortly...to finding what othertreasures lie...in my new "box of wonders"...................Quester.